Ben Thompson cops Flemington suspension
In a mixed day at Flemington, apprentice Ben Thompson has ridden a final race winner and copped a suspension.
Thompson guided Robbie Griffiths-trained Hay Bale to victory in Saturday’s last over 1100m.
But soon after he was in the stewards’ room having pleaded guilty to a careless riding charge aboard eventual third placegetter Rebellious Lord in the Murray Cox Handicap (1400m).
Thompson was suspended for 10 meetings, meaning he will miss the final two city meetings of the season at Sandown on Wednesday and Caulfield next Saturday.
His suspension starts after he rides at Bendigo on Sunday.
“It’s an unfortunate way to end the season but there’s always somebody worse off and I’m just lucky to finish the day with a win anyway,” Thompson said.
“I’ll ride tomorrow and then freshen up and look forward to kicking off the 2017/18 season.”
Thompson’s victory on Hay Bale took his season tally 78 winners, 41 of them in town.
He moved to equal sixth with Damian Lane on the Melbourne jockeys’ premiership and third in the apprentices’ standings behind Beau Mertens and Ben Allen.